Knitting tool

ABSTRACT

A double hook knitting device comprising a handle having a top, opposing bottom, a knitting end and a butt end, the top and bottom extending between the knitting end and butt end. The knitting device further including at least two knitting hooks extending from the knitting end. The at least two knitting hooks are arranged coplanar to each other with each knitting hook including a curved portion. At least one notch is arranged on an underside of the at least two knitting hooks along or near the curved portion, the notch arranged to control, locate and retain yarn during a knitting process. The distance between the at least two knitting hooks is arranged to be coextensive with the distance between a set of grooves, each groove arranged on a peg of an adjoining set of pegs, said pegs arranged on a hand knitting loom.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to knitting. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to knitting needles and systems for knitting.

The hand knitting process involves continuously interlinking or knotting series of loops of yarn using needles. These consecutive loops are intermeshed into the previous loop structure. In this manner, the new stitch secures the loop structure by locking the previous stitches that are suspended from it, eventually creating a sheet of material. The symmetric looping of yarn during the knitting process results in a fabric that is elastic and stretchy, which is a highly desirable property of knitwear.

Traditional hand knitting may be performed using two traditional knitting needles or may be performed using a traditional handheld knitting loom and single needle, also known as a loom hook. Handlooms commonly used today may include a rectangular, circular or oblong base depending on the type of garment being created. For example, a circular loom may be used to make hats or socks, while a rectangular handloom may be used to make blankets or scarves. Examples of traditional handheld knitting looms are shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 .

Handlooms typically include a series of pegs projecting upward from the base of the loom. The pegs are configured to hold the yarn warp loops and the woven weft loops. The pegs typically include a cap located at the top of the peg configured to retain the yarn on the peg. Pegs may also include a peg groove that extends vertically from the bottom of the peg near the loom base to the top of the peg near the cap. The peg groove makes it easier for the needle to “grab” the yarn from the loom during the knitting process.

A traditional loom hook includes a handle with a single tine extending from the handle. The single tine may be straight along its entire length. Alternatively, the single tine may include an angled portion located at the end of the tine furthest from the handle. A prior art knitting hook used with a hand loom is shown in FIG. 3 .

In use, the traditional loom hook is used to grab the yarn and pull it over the peg. To more easily grab the yarn, the hook is slide into the peg groove, thus arranging the hook underneath the yarn strand. The hook is then used to grab the yarn, pull it away from and up and over the peg to rearrange the yarn strand so it is located on the opposite side of the peg. This process is repeated for each peg until the yarn strand has been relocated to the inside of the loom. The process is then repeated for another yarn strand and so on until a desired item has been created.

One major deficiency of the traditional process of handloom knitting is the process is slow. What is needed is new device to improve the speed of handloom knitting without changing the traditional handloom.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present disclosure includes a double hook knitting device comprising a handle having a top, opposing bottom, a knitting end and a butt end, the top and bottom extending between the knitting end and butt end. The double hook knitting device further including at least two knitting hooks extending from the knitting end. The at least two knitting hooks are arranged coplanar to each other with each knitting hook including a curved portion arranged near an end of each knitting hook. A slot is formed between the knitting end and the at least two knitting hooks, the slot arranged to retain a yarn strand during a knitting process. The distance between the at least two knitting hooks is arranged to be coextensive with the distance between a set of grooves, each groove arranged on a peg of an adjoining set of pegs, said pegs arranged on a hand knitting loom.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the at least two knitting hooks are retained between the top and bottom and a hinge is located in close proximity to the butt end of the handle, such that when the handle top is rotated away from the handle bottom, the at least two knitting hooks may be located between the top and bottom and the top may be rotated back toward the bottom for securing the at least two knitting hooks between the top and bottom.

One embodiment of the present disclosure includes a method of knitting using a double hook knitting device comprising the steps of providing a double hook knitting device comprising, a handle having a top, opposing bottom, a knitting end and a butt end, the top and bottom extending between the knitting end and butt end, at least two knitting hooks extending from the knitting end, the knitting hooks arranged coplanar to each other, and a slot formed between the knitting end and knitting hooks, wherein the slot is arranged to retain a yarn strand during a knitting process.

A method of the present disclosure may further include providing a knitting loom having a base, multiple pegs located along a periphery of the base, each peg extending from the base and having a vertical groove facing outwardly from an interior of the loom. Further, yarn may be provided followed by arranging the yarn on the loom such that multiple layers of yarn are arranged on the pegs and extending over the vertical grooves of the pegs.

The method of the present disclosure may include using the double hook knitting device by inserting the two knitting hooks into two grooves of adjoining pegs, grabbing one of the layers of yarn with the two knitting hooks, and pulling the layer of yarn away from and up and over the two adjoining pegs such that the layer of yarn is located in the slot until the layer of yarn is located on a side of the two adjoining pegs opposite of the two grooves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a non-limiting perspective view of a prior art round hand knitting loom.

FIG. 2 is a non-limiting perspective view of a prior art rectangular hand knitting loom.

FIG. 3 is a non-limiting perspective view of a prior art knitting hook.

FIG. 4 is a non-limiting view according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a non-limiting view according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a non-limiting view according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a non-limiting view according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a non-limiting view according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a non-limiting view according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a non-limiting view according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a non-limiting view according to one aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in the following written specification. It is understood that no limitation to the scope of the disclosure is thereby intended. It is further understood that the present disclosure includes any alterations and modifications to the illustrated embodiments and includes further applications of the principles disclosed herein as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains.

It should be understood, that relative positional terms such as, “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “upper,” “lower,” “above,” “below,” “front,” “back” and the like, are with reference to the normal operational position of the device disclosed herein with respect to its normal intended use in connection with a knitting needle. Such positional terms should not be considered otherwise limiting.

The present disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology that has been employed herein is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than word of limitation. While there have been described herein what are considered to be exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, other modifications of the disclosure shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein and, it is, therefore, desired to be secured in the appended claims all such modification as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 4-6 , a non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure may include a double hook knitting device 10. The double hook knitting device 10 includes a handle 20 having a top 30, an opposing bottom 40, a knitting end 50 and a butt end 60. The top 30 and opposing bottom 40 extend between the knitting end 50 and butt end 60.

As shown in FIG. 6 , at least two knitting hooks 80 extend from the handle's knitting end 50. The knitting hooks are parallel to one another and lie within the same plane. Although two knitting hooks are shown, it is understood by one of ordinary skill that embodiments with more than two knitting hooks fall within the scope of this disclosure. As described in more detail below, the knitting hooks 80 are spaced apart so as to be alignable with the grooves 180 located in each of a pair of adjacent pegs 175 located on hand loom 150. See e.g., hand loom shown in FIG. 1 . If more than two hooks 80 (not shown) are arranged on the knitting end 50, each such hook 80 will be alignable with the corresponding number of peg grooves 180.

The at least two knitting hooks 80 may comprise a unitary construction 102 wherein the ends 82 of the knitting hooks extend outwardly from the handle's knitting end 50, while the u-shaped bottom 105 of the at least two knitting hooks 80 is retained within handle 20. The unitary construction 102 of knitting hooks 80 may be u-shaped, as shown in FIG. 6 , but one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that other shapes fall within the scope of this disclosure.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , knitting hooks 80 include a curved portion 100. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the curved portion 100 is structured to be concave in relation to a side view of the top 30 of handle 20. However, it is understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that knitting hooks 80 may be of different configurations, such as including an angled end relative to the rest of the knitting hooks. Moreover, the curved portion may be oriented in a convex relation to a side view of the top of the handle.

A slot 110 is formed between the knitting end 50 and knitting hooks 80. Slot 110 may include the area formed between knitting hooks 80 and knitting end 50. In one embodiment, slot 110 may extend along a substantial portion of knitting end 50 between the knitting hooks. As discussed in more detail below, slot 110 is arranged to manipulate, locate, retain and control a yarn strand 200 during the knitting process.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, handle 20 includes hinge 70 located in the area of the butt end 60 of handle 20. Hinge 70 is in communication with top 30 and bottom 40 and allows top 30 and bottom 40 to pivot away from each other so that the u-shaped bottom 105 or a suitable portion of knitting hooks 300 and 310 may be retained in handle 20 when top 30 and bottom 40 are rotated back together via hinge 70. Top 30 and bottom 40 may be reversibly secured together via handle securing device 120. Any suitable handle securing device may be used as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, handle securing device may comprise a screw and corresponding threaded inserts in top 30 and bottom 40.

Referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , an embodiment of the present disclosure of an improved knitting apparatus 205, includes a handle 210 having a first end 220, an opposing second end 230, a top side 240 and an opposing bottom side 250, the top side 240 and bottom side 250 extending between the first and second ends. The knitting apparatus 205 further includes a first knitting hook 260 extending from the handle first end 220, the first knitting hook 260 having a first curved end portion 270. A second knitting hook 280 extends from the handle first end 220, the second knitting hook 280 is in a coplanar and spaced apart relationship with the first knitting hook 260. The second knitting hook 280 also includes a second curved end portion 290 that is coplanar with and spaced apart from the first curved portion 270. The curved end portions 270, 290 are concave in relation to a side view of the top surface.

Still referring to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 , the knitting apparatus includes a yarn guide 300 extending from the handle first end 220, the yarn guide 300 comprising an angled end portion 310 that extends between the first knitting hook 260 and second knitting hook 280. The yard guide 300 is approximately parallel with the first knitting hook 260 and second knitting hook 280. The yarn guide 300 includes a top surface 305 and opposing bottom surface 315. A slot 320 is located near or between the angled end portion 310 and the underside 265 of first knitting hook 260. In like fashion, a second slot 330 is located near or between angled end portion 310 and the underside 285 of second knitting hook 280.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure the yarn guide angled end portion 310 may be in close proximity to or in contact with the first knitting hook 260 and/or second knitting hook 280. In another embodiment of the present disclosure the yarn guide angled end portion 310 may be in close proximity to or in contact with the first curved end portion 270 of first knitting hook 260 and/or the second curved end portion 290 of second knitting hook 280. The yarn guide angled end portion 310 and slots 320 and 330 are constructed and arranged to control, manipulate and locate the yarn strand 200 during knitting.

Referring to FIGS. 9-11 , one embodiment of the present disclosure includes at least one notch 115 located on at least one of the knitting hooks 80. Preferably the at least one notch 115 is located on each of the knitting hooks 80. Notch 115 may be arranged on the underside 85 of knitting hook 80. Notch 115 may extend along and into the sides of knitting hooks 80, such that the notch 115 encompasses portions of the underside 85 and sides of knitting hook 80. Notch 115 may be arranged in an area of curved portion 100 that is near end 50 of handle 20. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, notch 115 may be located near the center of the underside of curved portion 100 or any other location along knitting hook 80 that serves the purpose of controlling the yarn 200 during the knitting process, as would be understood by one of ordinary skill.

The method of manufacture and materials of construction of the embodiments of the present disclosure would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, manufacturing processes may include, but is not limited to, machining, casting, molding, 3d printing and any combination thereof. Materials of construction may include, but is not limited to metals, plastics, wood and any other material as would be known to one of ordinary skill.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIGS. 4-11 , in another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of knitting comprising the steps of providing a double hook knitting device 10, the device having, a handle 20, the handle having a top 30, opposing bottom 40, a knitting end 50 and a butt end 60, the top and bottom extending between the knitting end 50 and butt end 60. At least two knitting hooks 80 extend from the knitting end 50, the at least two knitting hooks arranged coplanar to each other. At least one notch 115 may be located on at least one of the knitting hooks 80 for the purpose of retaining and controlling the yarn 200 during the knitting process, as described in detail above. In another embodiment, a slot 110 is located between the knitting end 50 and the at least two knitting hooks 80, wherein the slot 110 is arranged to retain and control a yarn strand 200 during a knitting process.

Next, a knitting loom, such as loom 150, is provided having a base 160, multiple pegs 170 located along a periphery 165 of the base 160, each peg 170 extending from the base 160 and having a vertical groove 180 facing outwardly from an interior 167 of the hand loom 150. Yarn 200 is provided and arranged on the loom 150 such that multiple layers of yarn are arranged on the pegs 170 and extending over the vertical grooves 180 of the pegs 170, as is customarily done by one of ordinary skill in the art of handloom knitting.

Another step in the method comprises using the double hook knitting device 10 by inserting the ends of the at least two knitting hooks into two grooves 180 of adjoining pegs 170, grabbing one of the stands or layers of yarn 200 with the at least two knitting hooks 80 and pulling the yarn away from and up and over the two adjoining pegs 170 such that the layer of yarn 200 is located in the slot 110 or alternatively the at least on notch 115 until the layer of yarn 200 is located on a side of the two adjoining pegs 170 opposite of the two grooves 180.

Once the layer of yarn 200 has been located on the two adjoining pegs 170 on the opposite side of the grooves 180, the knitter moves to the next two adjoining pegs and the process is repeated. Using the double hook knitting device, the two knitting hooks are inserted into the two grooves of next adjoining pegs. Once again, the knitting hooks are used to grab the same layer of yarn previously grabbed. The layer of yarn is once again pulled away from and up and over the next two adjoining pegs such that the layer of yarn is located in the slot or alternatively the notches until the layer of yarn is located on the side of the next two adjoining pegs opposite those peg's grooves. The process is continued with successive adjoining pegs until reaching the first set of adjoining pegs and the layer of yarn is completely knitted into place. The process is then repeated for each layer of yarn until all layers of yarn have been knitted and the desired knitted item is produced.

It should be understood, that relative positional terms such as, “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “upper,” “lower,” “underside,” “above,” “below,” “front,” “back” and the like, are with reference to the normal operational position of the device disclosed herein with respect to its normal intended use in connection with a knitting needle. Such positional terms should not be considered otherwise limiting.

The present disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology that has been employed herein is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than word of limitation. While there have been described herein what are considered to be exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, other modifications of the disclosure shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein and, it is, therefore, desired to be secured in the appended claims all such modification as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure. 

I claim:
 1. A double hook knitting device comprising: a handle having a top, opposing bottom, a knitting end and a butt end, the top and bottom extending between the knitting end and butt end; at least two knitting hooks extending from the knitting end, the knitting hooks arranged coplanar to each other; and a slot formed between the knitting end and knitting hooks, the slot arranged to control and locate a yarn strand during a knitting process.
 2. The double hook knitting device of claim 1 wherein the distance between the two knitting hooks is arranged to be coextensive with the distance between a set of grooves, each groove arranged on a peg of an adjoining set of pegs, said pegs arranged on a hand knitting loom.
 3. The double hook knitting device of claim 1 wherein each of the at least two knitting hooks includes a curved portion arranged near an end of each of the at least two knitting hooks.
 4. The double hook knitting device of claim 1 wherein the at least two knitting hooks comprise a unitary u-shaped construction.
 5. The double hook knitting device of claim 3 wherein the curved portion is arranged concave in relation to a side view of the top of the handle.
 6. The double hook knitting device of claim 4 wherein the at least two knitting hooks are retained between the top and bottom.
 7. The double hook knitting device of claim 6 further comprising a hinge located in close proximity to the butt end, such that when the top is rotated away from the bottom, the at least two knitting hooks may be located between the top and bottom and the top may be rotated back toward the bottom for securing the at least two knitting hooks between the top and bottom.
 8. The double hook knitting device of claim 7 further comprising a handle securing device.
 9. An improved knitting apparatus comprising: a handle having a first end, an opposing second end, a top side and an opposing bottom side, the top side and bottom side extending between the first and second ends; a first knitting hook extending from the handle first end, the first knitting hook having a first curved end portion; a second knitting hook extending from the handle first end, the second tine coplanar with and spaced apart from the first knitting hook, the second knitting hook having a second curved end portion; and a yarn guide extending from the handle first end, the yarn guide comprising an angled end portion that extends between the first knitting hook and second knitting hook; wherein, the first and second curved end portions are constructed to grab a yarn strand during knitting.
 10. The improved knitting needle of claim 9 wherein the curved end portions are concave in relation to a side view of the top surface.
 11. The improved knitting needle of claim 9 wherein the yard guide is parallel with the first knitting hook and second knitting hook, the yarn guide having a top surface and opposing bottom surface, the angled end portion extending from the top surface to the bottom surface and arranged in close proximity to the first and second curved end portions.
 12. The improved knitting needle of claim 9 wherein the yarn guide angled end portion is in contact with the first and second knitting hooks.
 13. The improved knitting needle of claim 9 wherein the yarn guide angled end portion is constructed to control and locate the yarn strand during knitting.
 14. A double hook knitting device comprising: a handle having a top, opposing bottom, a knitting end and a butt end, the top and bottom extending between the knitting end and butt end; at least two knitting hooks extending from the knitting end, the knitting hooks arranged coplanar to each other; and at least one notch located on at least one of the at least two knitting hooks, the at least one notch arranged to control and locate a yarn strand during a knitting process.
 15. The double hook knitting device of claim 14 wherein the at least one notch is located on each of the at least two knitting hooks.
 16. The double hook knitting device of claim 14 wherein the distance between the two knitting hooks is arranged to be coextensive with the distance between a set of grooves, each groove arranged on a peg of an adjoining set of pegs, said pegs arranged on a hand knitting loom.
 17. The double hook knitting device of claim 15 wherein each of the at least two knitting hooks includes a curved portion, the at least one notch arranged on an underside of the at least two knitting hooks along or near the curved portion.
 18. The double hook knitting device of claim 17 wherein the curved portion is arranged concave in relation to a side view of the top of the handle. 